“In the U.S., comparable sales rose 7.8% as customers visited McDonald’s to enjoy wholesome breakfast choices, McDonald’s popular beverage line-up and classic core favorites, as well as the most recent addition to the menu – Chicken McBites – made with bite-sized pieces of premium chicken breast available for a limited time.”

It might not be burgers or steak, but it’s still animal products. Eggs, ham, cheese, chicken, milk in the lattes. (Just out of curiosity, what’s the difference between a premium chicken and a regular McDonald’s chicken? A college education?)

Then today I was listening to the radio with half an ear when I heard a reporter say that fur sales for 2011 were up 7 percent. Really? I’ve tried to confirm that but so far all I can find are statistics for 2010 – that do cite a 3.1 percent increase in fur sales in the U.S. for 2010.

So we’re eating less meat, eating more fast food, and wearing more fur. Does it sound a little confusing?

It reminds me a bit of a conversation I had with a friend over lunch a few years ago. We were talking about hand lotion and I said I was using something with lanolin. My friend, who sells cosmetics, said, “I never use anything with animal by products.” And she then proceeded to eat a steak sandwich. We both kind of looked at each other and laughed at the contradiction.

I like moments like that, moments that make me think about my choices. To be honest, I had never really thought about lanolin coming from a sheep. All I know is that it makes my very dry, cracked winter hands feel super soft. But I think about it now. Every time I put on that same lotion and feel relief for my dry, cracked winter hands.

So how about you? Are you eating more/less meat and why? Do you wear fur? Use products that contain animal by products? Have you ever even thought about animal products in your cosmetics?

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